Stuart grew up in the 1930s throwing hickory nuts at squirrels to strengthen his arm. By the time he was 18, Stuart was dominating the muggy sandlots of Arkansas and getting attention from MLB scouts. When the St. Louis Browns signed him in 1940, Stuart told them he had never seen a pair of spikes.

“I can just naturally pitch better when I can feel the diamond dust oozing between my toes,” Stuart told Sporting News in 1940.

He wanted to feel that oozing on a professional mound. Stuart was with the Class D Mayfield Browns when he asked manager Bennie Tate if he could start the last game of the 1940 season and leave his cleats in the clubhouse. Tate approved the stunt and on Sept. 7, 1940, in the second game of a doubleheader, Stuart took the field barefoot.

Fans laughed and opponents gasped. Stuart was pushing off the hard pitchers' rubber and landing on rocky dirt with two bare feet. Despite his pain, he somehow pitched well. Stuart threw a complete game and struck out 11 Fulton Tigers.

Stuart's feet feat wasn't his only accomplishment. He threw a perfect game for Triple-A Toledo in 1950 and appeared in 196 major league games, where he wore cleats every time.

Tim Hagerty is the broadcaster for the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas, and is on Twitter at @MinorsTeamNames . He is also the author of "Root for the Home Team: Minor League Baseball's Most Off-the-Wall Team Names."